MP calls for RM2,705 benchmark in welfare assistance reform

Syerleena Abdul Rashid, Member of Parliament for Bukit Bendera, has called for Malaysia's welfare assistance benchmark to be revised upward to RM2,705 monthly, citing inadequacies in the existing measurement framework.

The current poverty line of RM1,236 is insufficient as it accounts only for food expenses and excludes critical living costs such as housing rent, utilities, and other basic necessities, according to Syerleena. This narrow definition leaves vulnerable households without adequate support despite struggling with multiple financial obligations.

The proposed increase would bring the benchmark closer to actual household expenditure patterns among low-income Malaysians. Housing, transportation, healthcare, and education represent significant portions of household budgets that are not captured under the existing formula, she noted.

The call for revision reflects broader concerns about the adequacy of Malaysia's social safety net and whether current assistance levels meet the real-world needs of vulnerable populations. Policymakers have increasingly faced pressure to reassess welfare metrics to ensure they reflect contemporary living costs across the country.